Let's Do The News! (March 29, 2025)

                          

                                        

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- The death toll from the M7.7 quake in Myanmar has exceeded the one-thousand mark.

- The Philippines, the US, and Japan have completed their 8th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity in the West Philippine Sea.

- Philippine President Bongbong Marcos congratulated Filipina tennis player Alex Eala after her 2025 Miami Open stint.

- Juvenal Sanso, the Spanish painter and founder of Fundacion Sanso Museum, passed away at 95.

- The Aston Martin Valkyrie sets a new Top Gear Test Track road car record in 1:09.6.

- The live-action Legend of Zelda movie will hit cinemas this late March 2027.

- Netflix's original K-drama series Karma will feature Kim Nam Gil.

- Boy group BOYNEXTDOOR canceled their Bangkok tour after the devastating earthquake.

- The family of Sulli demands explanation from Kim Soo Hyun about her nude scenes in Real.

- Actor Clive Revill passed away at the age of 94. Revill was a veteran of Broadway and Royal Shakespeare Company and starred in the Transformers and Star Wars franchises.

TTFN.

TNT wins PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup Title

The rematch between TNT Tropang Giga and Barangay Ginebra has become the highlight of the PBA's 50th-anniversary celebrations. The Season 49 Commissioner's Cup Best-of-7 finals engulfed the bloody war between the two titans.

In a thrilling series, both teams exchanged shots in each of the six games, leading to a decisive Game 7 held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, where over 21,000 fans gathered. The final game saw intense competition, with both sides continuing to score until Ginebra’s standout import, Justin Brownlee, managed to tie the game and force it into overtime.

Image: PBA/RPTV

In the final score of 87-83, the TNT Tropang Giga defeated Barangay Ginebra to win their third Commissioner's Cup title. This victory marks the 11th overall title for TNT in the PBA. Rey Nambatac was named the MVP.

Congratulations to TNT Tropang Giga for winning its 11th overall PBA title!

TNT Tropang Giga won the title but the PBA's 50th anniversary celebration truly begins as teams are gearing up for the PBA's Philippine Cup soon.

Let's Do The News! (March 28, 2025)

                         

                                        

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- The PNP forces are in position at Lawton in preparation for a prayer rally by Rodrigo Duterte supporters.

- The Malacañang has defended cabinet members who refused to provide operational details regarding the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

- PH Vice President Sara Duterte extended greetings to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is celebrating his birthday today.

- PH President Bongbong Marcos was angered over the Senate hearing about the arrest of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.

- Australian PM Anthony Albanese called a federal election on May 3rd, seeking to fight off a resurgent opposition and win a second term.

- Yuki Tsunoda replaces Liam Lawson as Red Bull Racing driver, starting next weekend's Japanese Grand Prix. Lawson returns to the Racing Bulls team.

- MAVTV will be renamed as RACER Network.

- The Porsche Taycan lineup now has a standard 105kwh battery.

- Jarno Opmeer is named F1 Sim Racing World Championship 2025 Drivers Champion while Red Bull Racing is crowned Constructors Champions.

- A new BanG Dream! TV anime was announced after the Ave Mujica TV anime finale ended.

- The live-action movie adaptation of The Exit 8 video game hits theaters this August 29.

- Everything announced in the recent Nintendo Direct presentation, the last before unveiling further details on the upcoming Switch 2.

- Girl group ARTMS postponed the release of their new single at the last minute due to its title in the wake of the recent wildfires.

- ZEROBASEONE member Sung Han Bin will host the World of Street Woman Fighter reality show.

- Actor Steven Yeun joins the cast of the upcoming movie set from the Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise.

- BBC's Doctor Who Season 2 casts Rose Ayling-Ellis as Aliss, a deaf character.

 - IT'S SHOWTIME disqualifies Tawag Ng Tanhalan contestant Marco Adobas over his "cooking show" post.

TTFN.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: South Korea battles worst ever wildfires as death toll hits 26

 

Wildfires raging in South Korea doubled in size on Thursday from a day earlier, as authorities called the blazes the country's worst natural fire disaster with at least 26 people killed and historic temples incinerated.

More than 33,000 hectares (81,500 acres) have been charred or were still burning in the largest of the fires that began in the central Uiseong county, making it the biggest single forest fire in South Korea's history. The previous record was 24,000 hectares (59,000 acres) in a March 2000 fire.

"We are nationally in a critical situation with numerous casualties because of the unprecedented rapid spread of forest fires," Acting President Han Duck-soo told a government response meeting.

The military has released stocks of aviation fuel to help keep firefighting helicopters flying to douse flames across mountainous regions in the southeast of the country where fires have been burning now for nearly a week.

More than 120 helicopters have been deployed in three regions battling the blazes, the safety ministry said. South Korea relies on helicopters to fight forest fires because of its mountainous terrain. A helicopter pilot died on Wednesday after crashing while trying to tackle a blaze.

The wildfires that originated in Uiseong have been moving rapidly eastward, spreading almost to the coast, carried by gusty winds and with dry conditions aggravating the situation.

The Uiseong fire began spreading quickly on Wednesday, reaching the coastal county of Yeongdeok 51 km (32 miles) away in just 12 hours, said Won Myung-soo, director of satellite imagery analysis for the national forestry service.

While the meteorological agency has forecast some rain for the southwest, precipitation is expected to be under five millimetres for most of the affected areas.

"The amount of rain is going to be small so it doesn't look like it'll be big help in trying to extinguish the fire," Korea Forest Service Minister Lim Sang-seop told a briefing.

Experts have said the Uiseong fire showed extremely unusual spread in terms of its scale and speed, and that climate change is expected to make wildfires more frequent and deadly globally.

Higher temperatures amplified by human-caused climate change contributed to the existing seasonally dry conditions, "turning dry landscapes into dangerous fire fuel" in the region, the Climate Central group, an independent body made up of scientists and researchers, said in a report.

The wildfires have carved a trail of devastation through an area equivalent to about half the area of Singapore, ravaging everything in their path including historic temples and homes in the mountainous forest regions of North Gyeongsang province.

Teams of firefighters are on standby to protect the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Hahoe Village and the Byeongsan Confucian Academy in the city of Andong, if a blaze jumps the stream that flows around them.

The picturesque folk village has traditional Korean houses, many with thatched roofs, while the Confucian academy dates back more than 450 years.

The fires have already badly damaged other historic sites, including much of Gounsa Temple in Uiseong, which was built in 681.

"The buildings and remains of what Buddhist monks have left over 1,300 years are now all gone," said Deungwoon, the head of the Gounsa Temple.

Source: Reuters

Let's Do The News! (March 27, 2025)

                        

                                        

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has once again stood by its role of protecting the constitution, and not to meddle in politics. This was the AFP's assertion in a statement following alleged discussions about the rank and file's responsibilities.

- Former Senator Kiko Pangilinan has denied information that the Liberal Party and the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas had discussions. The former senator maintained that he remained independent and focused on his advocacy. "There have been no discussions between my camp and Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas," Pangilinan said.

- The Malacañang has hit back at Vice President Sara Duterte's statement that the Philippines is heading to the "dumpster." Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro stressed that the administration, led by President Bongbong Marcos, is taking many steps to develop the country.

- The Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has decided not to proceed with the proposed project to illuminate Mayon Volcano after receiving criticism from the public. According to Albayano and Bicol residents, the volcano is already part of the identity of the Bicol Region and there is no need to change or add anything because it is said to be so beautiful that it is considered a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and nominated for a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly provided details about a plan to kill a Houthi militant leader two hours before the military operation was launched. This is according to screenshots released by a journalist who accidentally joined a Signal group chat with senior Trump administration officials. Earlier, a US Senate Republican is pushing for an investigation into Trump administration officials over sensitive “attack plans” leaked by a journalist from the Signal messaging app. The official said the information could have killed U.S. troops if it had fallen into the wrong hands.

- EA SPORTS F1 25 will be released on May 30th for consoles and PC. This year's installment features a new chapter of the game's Braking Point story mode, post-launch content inspired by the upcoming F1 movie, and more.

- Game Informer magazine has made a comeback after its shutdown by GameStop. Gunzilla Games has taken over Game Informer and operates independently under the name Game Informer Inc.

- The family of the late actress Kim Sae Ron held a press conference, revealing Sae Ron's messages with Kim Soo Hyun.

- Girl group fromis_9 secured their rights to their group name.

- In Game 6 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup Finals, TNT forced a winner-take-all Game 7 after defeating Ginebra at the score of 87-83.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (March 26, 2025)

                       

                                        

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- 176 victims of human trafficking were sent back to the Philippines from Myanmar.

- Philippine President Bongbong Marcos approved talks between the Philippines and France to establish their Visiting Forces Agreement.

- Former President Rodrigo Duterte will continue to receive his monthly pension despite being held at the detention facility of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands. Furthermore, even if he is found guilty of crimes against humanity by the ICC, his benefits cannot be revoked without an order from the Supreme Court.

- King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla delayed their state visit to the Vatican after the doctors said Pope Frances needed to rest following his recent illness.

- The third-generation Aston Martin Vanquish is now available with the open-top Volante variant.

2026 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante

- Hyundai teases its Casper-based INSTEROID concept.

- The MG S5 EV was unveiled.

2026 MG S5 EV

- Kim Soo Hyun's Taiwan fan meeting was postponed amid scandals surrounding him and the late Kim Sae Ron.

- Amazon MGM Studios has announced that Amy Pascal and David Heyman will produce the next 007 movie.

- BBC's Doctor Who Season 2 casts Charlie Condou.

- MNL48 announced their April comeback with a "Reboot & Rise 2025" live event this April 26, 2025, at the SM North EDSA Annex. AKB48's sub-unit Quadlips will make their appearance as well.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (March 25, 2025)

                      

                                        

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- A magnitude 4.5 quake hits Cateel, Davao Oriental.

- Filipinos from various parts of Europe flocked to Scheveningen Prison to visit former President Rodrigo Duterte. Meanwhile, according to Vice President Sara Duterte, her father is in good health. They discussed the timeline of his case at the ICC and how to win it.

- The Philippine Department of Education reminded its officials, including teachers and non-teaching personnel, to refrain from participating in political activities during graduation ceremonies and moving-up for the 2024-2025 school year.

- The National Historical Commission of the Philippines has issued a warning against placing any marks or images on the Philippine flag. This warning was prompted by a photo of the flag featuring an eagle, created by supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte in Australia.

- Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero stressed that Filipinos are free to express their grievances, but he said this is not a license for them to spread fake news. The Senator added that the public should be clear in expressing their opinions.

- Samsung Electronics co-CEO Han Jong-hee passed away due to cardiac arrest. No reports have been made about who will replace Han as co-CEO.

- A magnitude 6.8 quake hits New Zealand.

- A failed circuit breaker was the reason the broadcast of IndyCar's Thermal Club race went dark.

- Kim Moo-yul, Lee Sung-min, Jin Ki-yoo, and Pyo Ji-hoon are joining the cast of the K-drama series True Lessons.

- Daniel Choi is confirmed to join Running Man as a new interim member.

- NJZ announced legal action against malicious posts.

TTFN.